Electrical switching mechanism



May 29, 1928.

H. E. STORK ELEGTRICAL swITcHING MEcHANIsu Filed April 9, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 nnlllmil lllllly ...mim u V INVENTOR.

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Patented May 29, 1928.

. 1,671,845 PATENTy OFFICE.

HAROLD E. STORE, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MECHANISM;

n Application led Apri19, 1927. Serial No. 182,366.

This invention relates to an 'electrical switching mechanism forcontrolling the circuits of electrically operated direction signalscarried by motor driven vehicles, and has for its object to provide, ina manner as hereinafter set forthy a mechanism of such class capable ofbeing conveniently operated by the driver of the vehicle to selectivelyclose. the circuits of an electrically operated direction signal toindicate right or left turn or a change in direction of travel.

Further vobjects of the invention are to' provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth an electrical switching mechanism for the purposereferred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong,durable, compact, thoroughly efficient in its use, capable of beinginstalled in the vehicle within convenient reach of the driver thereof,and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter moie specifically described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an oiiibodiment of theinvention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of theclaims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote v.correspondingparts throughout theseveral views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of amotoi driven vehicle,'showing theadaptation therewith ofk an electrically operated direction signal ofthe typecapable of being seen in signalling position from the front orrear of the vehicle' and further illustrating in- Figure 7 is aperspective view of the conduct-or member.

Referring to the drawings in detail v1 indicates the body of a motordriven vehicle, 2 the steering column, 3 the steering wheel, 4 a signalwhich is suspended laterally from one side of the body of the vehicle byal bracket or support 5, 6 a source of electrical energy. 8 anelectrical switching mechanism in accordance with this invention andwhich is clamped to the steering column 2, and 7, 9, 10 and 11 circuitconnections between the source 6, signal 4 and switching mechanism 8.The signalling system is of that type to permit of the signal 4 to beviewed from the front and rear of the vehicle or in other words wherebythe signal can be indicated to a driver approaching from the front and adriver aproaching from the rear with respect to that vehicle carryingthe signal 4.

The signal 4 forms the subject mater of my application Serial No.182,365, filed April 9, 1927, and will only be briefly referred toherein and it includes a casing 12 provided at its front and at its rearwith a .pair of signal plates 13, 1,4, one having an indication thereon,such as Rightand the other having an indication thereon suoli as Left.The signal plates at the rear of the casing, correspond to the signalplates at the front thereof. The signal plates 13 are, green and thesignalplates 14 are red. The casing is divided by a partition 15,forming a pair of lamp chambers 16, 17 and in each of which extends alamp 18 which are in afnormally open circuit. The bracket 5k is securedto the bottom of the casing 12, and is ixedly secured, as at 18, to thebody portion 1 of the vehicle whereby the casing 12 will be disposedlaterally with respect to said body portion as shown in Figure 1, so thesignal will be perceptible from both the front and indicated at 21, 22and each is formed with i a boss 23. vEach fla-nge is provided with anopening 24 extending'through the boss and body of the ange and the wallof the opening is threaded. The flanges 2l, 22 are arranged in Aspacedrelation and seated uponV and the outer' end of said plate has extending upwardly therethrough a pair of bind ing posts 26, 27. The bindingposts extend a substantial distance above the upper face ofthe plate 19and each is provided with a plurality of super-posed washers 23. Thepost 26 at its upper end is formed with a head 29, and the post 27 witha head 30. Interposed' between the head 29: and the washers 28` mountedon the post 26 is a contact terminal 31, and interposed between the head30 ofthe post 27' vand the washers 23 mounted on such post, is a contactterminal 32. `The Contact terminals 3.1, 32 are oppositely disposed withrespect to each other, as well as arranged in spacedrelfation, andeachconsists of a length of resilient, conducting material, bent uponitself' and shapedin a manner whereby the ends thereof: will extend awayfrom each other in opposite directions forming what may be termed' aV-shapecl entrance lorv each termi.- nal at its inner end. The :foldslof the strips other than the freeterminali portions thereof arerarrangedin .abutting relation. Each contact termi-nal is mounted? on a bindingpost at a point nearer the outer end' off the terminal than the innerend thereof. y The washersA 28: provide supports: for the terminals 31,The circuit conductor 'Z isattached to the bindiing post` 26.` andi thecifrcuit conductor 9 is attached. tothe binding yMounted: on the upperface off the plate 19 and positioned between. the' flanges 21,. 22 and:the correr member'- `20, is ai conductor memberV retorted: toygenerallyby the reterence character' 33: andi best sho-wn: in Figure 7. Theconductor memberI is. formed from-a plate ort conductingV material,indi- Gated' at 34 and slittedi lengthwise and with thematerial freed bythe slit upturned to providea resilient` contact finger 35; The plate34. hasits rear part extended upwardly kat an inclination, indicatedf at36. The li-ngen 35 overhangs the slot 37 formed' by the material freedfrom the slit when uptfurned; to provide the linger 35. The linger35eX1tends from fa; point between the transverse: median and. rearI` endofI the plate 34 tof a. pointvbetweenjthe transverse median ward portiono the plate 34 to secure the latter in position.

. Coacting with the. terminal contacts 30 and 32 for the purpose ofselectively closing the circuits of the signal 4, is a circuit openingand closing element consisting of `an arm 40 formed of" insulationmaterialend which has secured to its lower tace, ay circuit closingmember 41 which projects from the forward end of the arm 40. Holdfastdevices 43, 43 are employed for securing the circuit. closing member 41to the arm 40. The holdast device 43 is in permanent electrical contactwith the resilient contact finger The circuit opening and closingelement is shifted to electrically contact with tliecontact terminal 321or the conta-ct terminal 32 by a shitting rod 46, which carriesapolygonal'shaped nut 45, mounted in a correspondingly shaped opening 44formed in the arm 40 at they rear end thereof. The rod 46 is provided:at its upper end? with a right angularly disposed handle 47. A spacingcollar is interposed between the nut 4 5 and the plate 19 and is mountedon the rod 46; A securing nut, for the nut 45, is carried by the rod'46. The rod 46 extends down through the plate 19 and carries on `itslower end ay retaining cap '5L The lower end of the rod' 46 isperipherallyI threaded as at 50. That part oi' the rod14f6 which issurrounded by the plate-1911s plane asl indicated at 51. The rod 46isdisposedl in parallelism with respect to the column 2 and i it isconnected with said column by a cla-mping band 52 formed with a barrel53 for theV passage of the rod 46. The securing means Vfor the clampingband '52 is indicated at 52".

The cover member 20' is connected with 'the steering column 2 by a strap54, which is 'secured intermediate its ends, las at155tothe column 2.Holdast devicesv 56, 57V are pro'-l vid'ed. for connecting the endterminalf'portions of the strap. 54 to. the' cover' member 20 The strap54, in connection with the clampingv band: 52' maintains the rod 47' inparallelL ism: with respect tothe steering col'umn 2. The handle portion47 of the rod4'6 is ar'- ranged in close proxin'lity toI theA steeringwheel' 3; and projects: laterally therefrom.A The handleportion 47' isin convenient'reach of the driver of the car. y n

lf the circuit opening'and closing kelement is shifted in a direction sothat the member 4'1f engagesra. contactv terminal 3'1, the1 circuittothe signal 4 will' be closed:y for' the purpose of indicating Rightandif the' circuitopen'- ing andf'closing element'is shifted in`Vra'directioni so that the member 41 will'engage the contact terminal 32the circuit to the signal will be closed for the purpose of indicatingLeft. When the circuit opening and closing element is shifted inpeitherdirection for circuit closingpurposes, it enters between the opened endsof the contact terminals andy as these latter are resilient they willfriction ally engage the member 41.

It is thought the many advantages ofl an electrical switching mechanismin accordance with this invention, can be readily understood,particularly in view of the Jfact that it is in convenient reach of' thedriver of .the vehicle so that it can be actuated to selectively closeanyone of the circuits of an electrically operated direction signal toindicate the direction of travel of a vehicle, and als though thepreferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described,yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of constructioncan be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

That I claim is:

l. An electrical switching mechanism for Ithe purpose set forthcomprising a pair of spaced contact terminals each formed of a resilientelement having the ends thereof arranged in spaced relation, anoscillatory arm of insulation material, 'a circuit closing membercarried by and projecting from one end of said arm and selectivelyengaging with said contact terminals at the opposed ends thereof forclosing a circuit, a conductor member provided with an offset resilientcontact finger in permanent electrical engagement with said circuitclosing member and adapted to be permanently connected to a source ofelectrical energy, and a shifting rod for said arm connected to theother end thereof. i

2. An electrical switching mechanism comprising a plate, a pair ofspaced binding posts extending therethrough, oppositely disposed contactterminals carried y said posts and each having the inner end thereofflaring, a shiftable circuit opening and closing element including acircuit closing member cooperating with the flared ends of saidterminals and selectively engaging wit-h said terminals for closing acircuit, another binding post extending through said plate, and aconductor member in permanent electrical contact with the last mentionedbinding post and formed with an offset .resilient contact finger inkpermanent electrical engagement with said circuit closing member, andshifting means connected to said element.

3. An electrical switching mechanism comprising a plate, a pair ofspaced binding posts extending therethrough, op ositely disposed contactterminals carried by said posts and each having lthe inner end thereoffia-ring, a shiftable circuit opening and closing element including acircuit closing member cooperating with the flared ends of saidterminals and selectively engaging with said terminals for closing acircuit, another bind ing post extending through said circuit closingmember plate, a conductor member in permanent electrical contact withthe last mentioned binding post and formed with an offset resilientcontact finger in permanent electrical engagement with said circuitclosing member, shifting means connected to said element, and a covermember secured to the upper face of said plate and enclosing saidconductor member, contact terminals and element, said shifting meansextending upwardly through said cover member and further extendingthrough said plate.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature hereto.

HAROLD E. STORK.

